rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring

rung

2 of 2

noun

ˈrəŋ 

1

a

: a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair

b

: one of the crosspieces of a ladder

2

Scotland : a heavy staff or cudgel

3

: a spoke of a wheel

4

: a level in a hierarchy

rise a few rungs on the social scale

—H. W. Van Loon

Synonyms

Noun

• degree
• echelon
• footing
• level
• place
• position
• rank
• ranking
• reach(es)
• situation
• standing
• station
• status
• stratum

Examples of rung in a Sentence

Noun

He was on the bottom rung on the corporate ladder.

the top rung of society

the lowest rung of the pay scale

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This model sits a rung below the S in the Taycan hierarchy. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

With that, the attacker was able to connect to the control server through the targeted network, another key rung in the breakout ladder climb. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025

Teams operating a rung below their nation’s title favorites can still claim one of a healthy number of berths into the tournament field — teams of Dortmund, Juventus and Milan’s caliber at present. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

With Angel and Duke both dead, Reacher has ascended two rungs. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Goth hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring — more at ring

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing rung

• get/have one's bell rung

Rhymes for rung

• bling
• bung
• clung
• dung
• flung
• fung
• hung
• lung
• slung
• sprung
• strung
• stung

Kids Definition

rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring entry 3

rung

2 of 2 noun

ˈrəŋ 

: a rounded part placed as a crosspiece between the legs of a chair

also : one of the crosspieces of a ladder

Medical Definition

rung

past part of ring